Park City Beyond the Slopes: A Winter Weekend Wonderland Guide

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Headed to Utah and looking for the best things to do in Park City besides ski? Keep on reading, my winter-loving, ski-hating friends, as this article will show you allll those Park City activities to add to your agenda without falling heading down the mountain.

When a quick escape to the mountains is calling your name, look no further than Park City. This bustling little city is an absolute haven for skiers and snowboarders alike, but what happens if you’ve never skied before and/or have no interest in learning? Thankfully, Park City offers a variety of other options to fill up a winter weekend away sans mountain activities. Hands up if you like exquisite dining experiences, massage treatments, and a little thrill here and there. Oh, and you can’t forget the possibility of hot-tub relaxation in the snow. Trust me, your friends who spent money on lift tickets will be jealous of all the extra time you had to complete all of these things to do in Park City, Utah.

It’s hard to describe that feeling when you wake up in your cozy King size bed to a winter wonderland happening right outside your window. The snow is falling, the air is cold and crisp – it’s downright serene and just magical! And besides the ever-so-popular Sundance Film Festival each February, there’s no shortage of fun things to do in Park City besides ski in the chilly winter months.

Wondering what to do in Park City besides ski and snowboard? I’ve got you covered! Although Park City’s a massive snow resort town, I can think of at least a dozen more reasons to visit this quaint little area besides ski and snowboard.

The Ultimate Park City Guide for Non-Skiers

HOW TO GET TO PARK CITY

What attracts so many visitors to Park City, besides its bustling (and beautiful) ski season, is the ease at which you can visit. With Park City being a quick 35 minute ride from Salt Lake International Airport, visiting can’t get much easier or convenient. There are a variety of shuttles busing people back and forth, but I highly recommend Park City Transportation for private transfers to and from the airport. A late night pickup was no problem for them, and they scheduled our return with a modest amount of time to be sure we didn’t miss our flight.

HOW TO GET AROUND TOWN

Luckily, once you make it to Park City, there’s absolutely no reason to rent a car. Who wants to worry about driving around in the snow? Not I, for sure! Many of the lodges and hotels have complimentary shuttle buses that will bring you from your accommodation to restaurants, activities, and other nearby areas.

In addition, Historic Main Street offers its visitors a free trolley all along the lengthy street. Yes, free, you heard read that right! Don’t feel like walking uphill in the freezing cold? Don’t fret – there’s a trolley for that. 😉

And if you ever find yourself stuck somewhere, or are hoping to venture a little further off, there’s always Uber!

What to do in Park City for Non-Skiers

Snowshoe Tour with White Pine Touring:Ready for a bit of exercise? With fantastic views of course?! I snow-shoed for the first time on Mt. Rainier a few years ago, and let me tell you, showshoeing was even more of a workout here in Park City! A great way to work off the desserts I consumed the night before, right? Worried that you don’t know how to snow shoe? No prior experience needed! They say if you can walk, you can snow shoe… just get ready to bundle up and watch for any flying snowballs your guide or partner may throw at you (just a heads up…) You may even see a few silver mining shafts from back in the day. We snowshoed with White Pine Touring and had a fantastic experience.

Get a Massage at Montage at Deer Valley Spa: Before we go any further, let me just say that a massage is absolute heaven on Earth immediately following a snowshoe tour. Yes the snowshoeing is good fun, but yes, your muscles will hurt like no other as well! We scheduled massages at Montage at Deer Valley Spa, and I can 100% recommend this place to others. I wish we had given ourselves more time to enjoy the amenities, but we were too busy stuffing our faces with meat and cheese from the platter we ordered right before…

Pool and Hot Tub: Whatever you do, make sure you leave some time at your resort for the pool, hot tub, and relaxation rooms in the spa. There is nothing more magical (as cliché as that sounds), as sliding into a hot Jacuzzi tub, cucumber water in hand, with fresh snow falling from the sky gently seeping into your warm skin. I’ve detailed more magic in Park City here. We thankfully didn’t over plan this trip (as I usually do…it’s in my nature), and were able to relax for a few hours almost every morning after breakfast. Bonus points if it’s snowing out – but you can’t control that! We stayed at Stein Eriksen Lodge, and they boast one of the best spa’s I’ve ever seen…

Alpine Coaster and Eagle Zipline at Park City Mountain Resort: You’ll find Utah’s longest Alpine Coaster here in Park City, which is comprised of over a mile of loops, curves, and hair-pin bends at speeds up to 30 mph! Being a die-hard fan of roller coasters myself, I can honestly say this was worth the few bucks, especially with the mountain scenery changing at every curve. But be sure to bundle up! My face (and hands) were freezing!

* Despite the thrill we had on the alpine coaster, I wouldn’t make the trek to Park City Mountain for these attractions alone. The Eagle Zipline was unfortunately rather underwhelming, but I can see how it may spark the interest in young kids a bit more.

Bobsled ride at Utah Olympic Park: Yes, I just said Bobsled! Where else can you travel down a bobsled on an actual Olympic track used by premier athletes?! Sure, it costs a pretty penny, but it’s definitely the thrill of a lifetime!

At Utah Olympic Park, you’ll generate up to three times the force of gravity while you zip down almost a dozen windy curves on a track of ice that was home to the bobsled, skeleton, and luge events during the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympic Games. Expect to reach speeds of up to 60 miles per hour in less than a minute — a major adrenaline rush right there and a highly physical and extreme experience definitely not for the faint of heart!

Want bragging rights for the rest of your life? You’ve got them, that’s for sure! It should be noted that you can’t take photos or videos inside the bobsled for obvious safety reasons, but you won’t even be thinking about that once the sled is off.

Walk around Historic Main Street:The absolute epitome of quaint! Nestled between Park City Mountain and Deer Valley Resort, Historic Main Street is full of quirky shops and boutiques (carrying more than ski gear), bookstores, galleries, and cafes. Remember- you’ve got the free trolley here! And absolutely delicious chocolate! Looking for some nightlife? Head to Main Street once the sun goes down and you’ll find a wide array of clubs and wine bars! We were too pooped to experience any of these, but it’s on our list for next time!

Other Recommended Ideas:

Complimentary s’mores at Montage at Deer Valley: Because, why not?! We lucked out and were in the vicinity as soon as the s’mores cart was brought outside near the fire pit and downed a few before running to our scheduled massages at the spa.

Park City Museum: Located in the heart of Park City on Historic Main Street, you’ll find artifacts and exhibits about the history of the city in this newly renovated museum. Modern, impressive, and interactive! A great place to warm up!

Snow Mobiling: This has been on my bucket list for years and I wish we could have fit this into our itinerary but there just wasn’t enough time! Next trip, for sure!

Hot Chocolate and board games at The Stein: Looking for a relaxing afternoon to spend indoors? Order some hot chocolate (whipped cream included!), cozy up by the fire, and play a few board games on site. A great way to unwind and warm up after some time in the cold!

Dog-sled ride: Another experience I’ve longed to have for quite some time! I’ve read that many of the dogs are rescued from shelters, and I cannot support this enough. And who wouldn’t want to play with the puppies?

High West Distillery & Saloon: Any whisky lovers out there?! The High West Distillery is calling your name! Head to the tasting room and/or go on a tour throughout the facility.

Recommended (Not-to-Miss) Restaurants

While Park City has an endless amounts of restaurants, and is actually rumored to have more restaurants per capita than any other city, there are a few that really stood out to us on our recent visit.

The Glitretind: Bacon ice cream. Enough said. All kidding aside, The Glitretind (located within Stein Eriksen Lodge), fulfilled all our breakfast cravings, coffee and fresh OJ included. All the dishes we sampled were downright delicious and were the perfect start to our busy day in Park City. Favorite dishes included waffles and Stein’s bacon ice cream, avocado toast and egg whites, and Wagyu short rib hash, but really, no choice could be wrong. We came for breakfast, but The Glitretind, awarded four stars by Forbes, is a popular spot for dinner, so reservations are highly recommended. And plus, the views can’t be beat!

tupelo: Located on Historic Main Street, this upscale and stylish bar and restaurant provides diners with New American cuisine featuring ingredients from American producers around the states, think fresh Idaho trout, housemade ricotta, and heirloom Sea Island beans. It’s evident every part of each dish is carefully chosen and thought out in order to provide the absolute tastiest meals! Into whisky? Make sure to try the cocktail featuring High West! Open all day, but especially popular for dinner. Seasonal menus provide an ever-changing assortment of items at their freshest! The buttermilk biscuits, pan roasted bass, and twice baked sweet potato were absolutely divine.

Silver Star Café: We ventured over here for lunch one day, and boy, were we spoiled. This chill Park City hangout has unparalleled views down below and cuisine like no other. They were definitely featured on the Food Network for good reason! All in all, a fine space. On our menus for the day included BBQ pulled pork, Rory’s burger (which I substituted the meat for a house-made quinoa and black bean patty with avocado and it was delightful), and a trio of mini desserts, my absolute favorite. I’d go back for that peanut butter pie any day!

Riverhorse on Main: We had one of the best meals here (not just in Park City, but in life so far…), and I can honestly say I’d be okay with eating here multiple times a week. The food, the service, the live music – everything exceeded our expectations and then some. Makes sense since it’s consistently rated the best restaurant on Main Street. A true Park City culinary gem! Give me more of that ahi tuna, please and thank you! Come here if you’re looking for eclectic American cuisine, and make sure to try the honey glazed pork belly, the macadamia nut crusted Alaskan halibut, and the huckleberry cheesecake (seasonal).

Recommended Hotels

Looking for a year round destination with stellar activities and amenities? Located in Deer Valley, The Stein Eriksen sports incredible views of the mountains, is minutes from Historic Main Street, and boasts one of the best brunches (and complimentary breakfast buffets) in the area. What else can you ask for?

The Lodge was built and inspired by Stein Eriksen himself, who was an alpine race skier and Olympic gold medalist from Norway, hence the Norwegian style of the resort, rustic feel included. The arrival lobby and main lodge are beautiful decorated, and although the resort is comprised of multiple buildings, it feels small and intimate.

Our room included a private hot tub overlooking the snowy mountains of Deer Valley, which made for quite a few romantic moments. I could see this balcony being great for après-ski relaxing as well if you’re heading down the mountain. Service was on-point and all staff were super accommodating.

Make sure you check out the spa – open for all guests whether or not a treatment is received. The fitness room, outdoor pool/hot tub, relaxation rooms, and hot/cold baths were fantastic. Bring a book or read one of the complimentary magazines by the fire place – what a cozy place to read!

Please note that I partnered with Visit Park City to bring you the ultimate guide on a winter weekend away for you non-skiers (like myself) out there! All opinions, hot-tub loving, and bob sled freak-outs are my own.

Have you been to Park City before?! Non-skiers, would you consider spending a weekend there now knowing there’s so much to do in Park City besides ski?